INCHEON: Light flyweight fighter Mohammad Waseem will be Pakistan’s main medal hope in the XVII Asian Games boxing event which starts at the Seonhak Indoor Gymnasium from Wednesday.

The Quetta-based Waseem, who had shown courage and technique to win the silver medal in the XX Commonwealth Games in Glasgow a couple of months ago, looked charged up and prepared for the fierce competition here in the Asiad. “I am aiming for a medal here at the Asian Games, and while it may be a tough task, I am fully geared up to bring honour and glory for the country,” Waseem said.

Overall Pakistan have won six gold, 14 silver and as many bronze medals in the Asian Games during its history.

However, despite its impressive medal record in Asiad boxing, they unfortunately failed to fetch any medal in Guangzhou in 2010.

Waseem’s city-mate late Abrar Hussain Shah had the honour of winning a gold medal for Pakistan as he had featured in the 1986 (Seoul), 1990 (Beijing) and 1994 (Hiroshima) Asian Games.

Pakistan coach Ali Bakhsh, however, looked dissatisfied with his team’s prepartions for a mega event like the Asian Games. “My boys are lacking the much needed international exposure ahead of games, But now we are in Incheon and must get our act together to secure a medal for the country,” said Ali Bakhsh who won the light-fly gold for Pakistan in the 1982 Asian Games in New Delhi.

“We have got talented pugilists in the team including Waseem but they could not play many practice matches ahead of this mega event to make ideal preparations,” he added. “Asian Games will be tough in presence of strong contingent from the Central Asian Republics.”

Other members of Pakistan boxing squad Mohib Pasha (light-fly), Nadir Baloch (bantamweight), Ahmed Ali (lightweight), Aamir Khan (64kg) and debutant Sanaullah (heavyweight).

Published in Dawn, September 24th, 2014